here is a nested test
\ifcat
\ifnum\value{totalpages\@roman{#1}}=#2
ifbody 1
ifbody 1
ifbody 1
\typeout{Total pages for Chapter #1 match auxilary file (#2)}
\ifnum\something\else\other\fi
\else
\ifodd\value{totalchapters}=#1
ifbody 2
ifbody 2
ifbody 2
\fi
\typeout{Warning: total pages for Chapter #1 updated from \the\value{totalpages\@roman{#1}} to #2-- recompile to fix}
\fi
\fi
\ifcat\ifnum\value{totalpages\@roman{#1}}=#2\fi\fi
